Dental impression tray



April 17, 1951 v, Q ELIOT DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY Filed Jan. 29, 1948 1 N V EN TOR. V2111 far/[muff ih'ai BY 'wmew Qim-mw- Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DENTAL IJVIBRESSION TRAY Van Cortlandt Eliot, Garden City, N. Y.

Application January 29, 1948, Serial No. 5,120

g 7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to dental impression trays, and more particularly to such a tray having means operable to compress a plastic molding compound against all the parts of the mouth to which it is to be applied.

In the manufacture of dentures it is customary to place a plastic molding compound in the recess of a relatively rigid tray, and to force the compound against the gums to obtain an impression of the contours of the mouth and gums, from which a dental plate may be manufactured. The force applied when using the conventional dental impression tray can, however, be applied in only one direction, upwards, when taking an impression of the upper gums, and

downward when taking an impression of the lower gums. Naturally, as the force is applied, the

'plastic will slide over the various irregularities of the gums and the ridges of the hard palate. The scoring thus formed in the plastic material as it is inserted into place is never entirely eliminated when the material is forcedinto its final position, with the result that an accurate mold of the mouth is not obtained, and the dentures manufactured therefrom will present voids between the denture and the mouth surface tending to reduce the suction contact between the denture and the mouth surface. Such dentures will not adhere firmly to the mouth when in place, and require the use of an adhe-' sive compound to anchor them firmly in place. Even with the use of such an adhesive compound, a bite pressure of more than fifteen or twenty :pounds will cause the denture to become dislodged.

A further disadvantage of conventional dental impression trays is that no means is provided for securing an accurate impression of the rearmost portions of the mouth. As pressure is applied, the molding compound tends to flow rearward from the tray, and the pressure applied to the rearmost portion of the molding compound is in.- sufiicient to obtain any accurate impression of that portion of the mouth surface.

.It is an object of this invention to provide a dental impression tray embodying means to apply a three-way pressure to the molding compound contained therein so that an accurate impression of the interior surface of the mouth may be obtained, which may beemployed for the manufacture of a denture which will conform closely to the contours of the mouth so that a positive suction fit may be obtained.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a dental impression tray embodying means 2 to apply auxiliary pressure to the molding compound contained therein against the rearmost portions of the gums so as to obtain an accurate impression thereof.

Other and further objects and advantages of my new and improved dental impression tray will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

In general my invention comprises a dental impression tray having a base plate and an interior wall shaped to conform generally to the contours of the mouth. In the case of a tray adapted to make an impression of the upper gums, the interior wall will of course have the general contour of the hard palate, and will form a continuous surface between each leg of the base plate. In the case of a tray adapted to makean impression of the lower gum, the interior wall will be bent upwardly from the base plate at an angle approaching the perpendicular and will not form a continuous surface between the legs of the base plate, space being left to accommodate the tongue. A handle portion extends from the forward end of the base plate.

The exterior walls of the tray are formed by two compressible wall sections which lie at right angles to the plane of the base plate and which are fixed to the base plate at the rear end thereof as by welding or riveting, or they may be formed integrally with the base plate. The wall sections are curved to conform to the exterior curvature of the base plate from the point of attachment thereto to the handle section thereof, at which point the wall sections are bent outwardly to form straight arms, by means of which the wallsections may be laterally compressed.

Dam-forming sections are hingedly attached to the rearward end of each leg of the base'plate. These sections are conformed to the general shape of the rear end of the gums. In the case of the tray adapted to form an impression of the upper jaw the dam-forming sections are connected bythe dam-forming sections about their hinged axis may be attached. p A lever is swingably fixed to the handle section of the base plate as by a lug and pin attachment.

The wire or other means of movement of the damforming section is led from the dam-forming section to a point approximately midway of the lever, whereby a manipulation of the lever will impart upward rotary motion to the dam-forming section.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, when the new and improved dental impression tray filled with plastic material has been forced into gs tio l y ;.t -.s ,-.nressu e e ert d y forcing together the arms of the, -exterior wall sections will force the plastic material firmly against the outer surface of the gums, thereby forming an accurate impression thereof, andwill at the same time pull the interiornwall sections of the tray forward, thus pressin ?vl?1atic material contained within the tray firmly against the interior surfaces of them-gums;and; against the palate, thereby forming an accurateimpression thereof.

The lever controlling the movement of the =dam-jormingesections is then T manipulated; the lmanipulations forcing'thadam-iorming sections and. =itheir contained plastic material firmly against the gums, thereby to obtain an--accarate impression of: the rearward portion of the gum "surface.

In-order to facilitate an understanding of; my invention, reference ismade to the accompany- -ing==drawing; in which: 1

is Fig. 1: is atop plan view of the newanddm -.-prov.ed -.dental -trayof the-type adapted io-r use :ingtaking an impression of the--=-upper -jaw, the .s01ld dines indicating the position of the exterior .walls as-they would ap-pear in normal position,

the z dotted llinesindicating the position "Ofrthe .exter-iorwallsaas they wouldappearwhen 'com- .pressed,

2 is across-sectionalviewofthe newand eimprovemdental tray as itwould appear when :y-iewed along line 2=-2-*of=*F igz 1 showing;"1the" dam-formingLsectionwas itwould appearwhen Iain lowered. position,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational viewof =the-new;and improved dental tray: showing the dam-forming section as itwould appear whenin raised position,"

, a Fig. 4 :is astopplanview of the new- -and im- -.-proved'.l-dental A tray of a design adapted -for use s-initaking Yam impression A 'of' the lowenjaw, "and erali'ig; 5; is a=-cross-sectional view of the-new-and I .improyedi dental tray as i it would appear when wiewed :along line 5 -5 ofal ige l the-solid lines '(showinga dam-formingsection -asit-w9r11d-"apspear in lowered-position; the dotted lines showing i I a dam-forming' section asit=would appear when in raised position. I

eiSimilar'. reference characters refer -to similar ,ipa-rts -;throughoutethe several= views Off the draw- .ing :and. the-specification.

r;,:My dentala-impression tray is preferably -fabricated =-from light-g-augesoft sheet-metal; or a resilientiplastic mate-rial.

v .iillustratedin Figs: 1 through 3,;3the tray :comprises a.flat base plate I of generally arcuate -.Y=shaped -contour *presentingleg sections 2, and bland azhandlesection 4. -An interiorwall 5 conrneets the legesections Zand 3-, the wall 5'rising smoothly? tromrthe'inner surfaces 0f=-theleg-s,ec-

.tions' Zea-11d: 3 -to--form' a -convex retaining wall generally l-shapedto conform: to the contours of the-ehard palate. I L afies sn when -wa l section lizar 1 fixed tovthet-base i plate P at or; 'ne ar 'jthe outer portion of the ends of its leg sections; 2 jand13. fl heexte i ri a l t qns 6 pd-' -'1-martej r etie or welded to the base plate I, but are preferably formed from the same piece of material by stamping out a blank in the proper design, and by bending up the exterior wall-forming material at right angles to the base plate I, so that the plane of the exterior wall sections 6 and 6' will lie in a plane roughly perpendicular to the plane of the base plate I. Exterior wall sections 6 and 6 present arm portions I and I which are curved .,t9.i0llow,the-.c1uter outline of theflleg sections 2 a nd 3, and nanipulatinghandlerportions 8 and 8 which are flared outwardly at hip portions 5 9 and 9', whereby the exterior wall sections 6 and 6' may be compressed to the position indicated by 5 thedotted-lines shown in Fig. 1. v

.1 .Aadameformi-ng plate I0 is swingablymounted on the ends of the leg portions 2 and 3 as by akhi-nge's:II- andEII. The dam-forming plate I0 pomprises outer walls I2 and I2, base walls I3 and I3, and a bar portion I4, which rises arouately from and connects with the interiorfid es '-of-;t-l:re-bottom-wallportions I3"and' I3? Thehar portion" I4 overlies in part theinterior wall 5; and -'conforms generally to the, contour "of the hard palate.

A lever I5 is mounted-on the lower sideijoiflthe handlesection 4-as by a ,lugldandpinILflin a positionconyenient for manipulation. Thev leyer --lever I5 is connected with the outer walls; I 2 and "I 2 of, the dam-forming plate I 0 as by a. Wir'ejl 8 securedthrough holes .I 9 and I9. located neailthe 'uppergedges of the outer w'alls i 2 and I2 ,and passing through a hole"2 0 nearthe centerfoifthe "lever I5, whereby .the damformi iplatei IB'Jnay ybe-caused to rotate aboutits hinged axisby manipulation of' the lever I 5.

1Asillustratedinjigs. 4 and 51 thedentaljmpression tray presents. a base fplate. I,. exteri r walls a-and 6',; and a 1ever*I 5';of; the same ftltpegas 40 illustrated-in Figs. 1' through AninIJIiIZiOrwalI portionZI arises from the inner jedges'jofjthejleg s t o 2 a d Mo a he ht sli ht y lessrhantha "of the exterior ,wall sections Brandt.

Dam-formmg' sections "22 and ,fl22' are ghing'edly connected" to theendsjof less .2. and .3 ,as by hinges 23 and +23. *'.Damform ing.. seetionsf'il. ahd';22 present outerwall s24, and 2,43. base Walls} Siahd r nd inner walls 25 andfiltheoutenandim ner' wallsbeing bentupwai'datan anglen'ofabout -90fyto the base walls g25uandl25', jwhichL are of sufileient width topermitthe outer,.wal1s;24.and -24--to' clearthegexterior walls, 6..a'nd fi'aiandsto :permitthe inner walls 2fi apd'.26',to.'.cleai theiinerior W l P HTZ-lW LlL Q dam-formi sections*22 and22' are rotated about their hinged axes.

-'.A., Wir 18 leads; trpmwholes ,2'L.ai1d"2l,-.,located -;near the upper edges pf, .,O .1116r..Wal1s.24,,and-;24 through the holeju in "thevleveri. I5, whereby the dam-forming sections ,ZZand'ZZL maybe rotat ypwarg yby fiLforwardsmotions'oflthb lever I5 to the position indicated by the dotted. lines in Fig: 5. When using my new and, improvedldentaljm- 5 pression tray tosecureran, impressionior, aJull denture; plastic material .of ianyptypenseiul in taking "dental impressionslis' .inserted' .in;' the a sh efin d y ba glpla l ,l exterior, wallisecr tions 6 and 62,.andinterionwallsll 5 ,01 ;2I,...and

the tray with its plasticcontent isforced against H t e um .T' fiiQ ffle exerted will tendto. extriide plast c. mmitheends :of theelegflpo rtions 2...and 3 onto'the" dam-turnin plate I I1 iortdamiorming ec i n .and,;22'.- iWhenlthegtr-ayi had been Z5 tamed t ;,its ntimate PQsitiQnpn; thesumssthe operator will squeeze together the manipulating handle portions 8 and 8 of the exterior wall sections 6 and 6 so as to compress them into the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The force thus exerted against the plastic material contained in the tray will tend to press it firmly against the outer surface of the gums so as to register an accurate impression thereof on the plastic material. At the same time a forward pull will be exerted on the base plate I at the point of connection between the base plate I and the exterior wall sections 6 and 6', thus forcing the interior walls or 2| forward against the plastic material in the trough whereby to register an accurate impression of the contours of the inner portion of the gums and of the palate upon the plastic material.

The lever I5 is then manipulated to rotate the dam-forming plate ll] or the dam-forming sections 22 and 22' against the gums, forcing the plastic material firmly against the rearmost portion of the gums whereby to register an accurate impression thereof. The rearmost edge of the bar portion I4 and of the base walls I3 and I3 or 25 and 25' will press firmly against the upper palate and gums to form a post dam, insuring an accurate fit and excellent suction qualities in any denture manufactured from the impression taken by the use of this new and improved dental impression tray.

The tray may also be used to secure impressions for partial dentures. When so using the tray the dentist will place the empty tray in the patients mouth and mark thereon the position of the remaining teeth. With a dental drill or burr he may then cut away suflicient of the tray material to allow the patients remaining teeth to pass through the openings thereby provided. He will then fill the tray with plastic material and proceed to take an impression as described above.

It is to be noted that the tray as designed will not cause discomfort to the patient and will not press against the lip cords found in the forward part of the mouth since when the exterior wall sections 6 and 6 are fully compressed, there will remain a space between the hip portions 9 and 9' thereof, so that no part of the tray will press against the cords or interfere therewith.

By the use of my new and improved dental impression tray I have been able to manufacture dentures which will take a 60-pound bite pressure without loosening in the mouth, and which enable the user to chew with a lateral motion without loosening. The tray is sturdy and may be easily fabricated by stamping from a sheet of material. Dentures manufactured from impressions taken by the use of this tray will fit the mouth accurately and will firmly adhere to the mouth by means of suction alone, no adhesive being required.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a dental impression tray, the combination of a Y-shaped base plate having leg sections and a handle section, an interior wall arising from the inner edges of the said leg sections, a damforming section hingedly attached to the ends of the said leg sections, the said dam-forming section presenting outer wall portions, base wall portions, and a dam-forming plate portion connecting the inner edges of the base wall portion, the said plate portion being curved to generally conform to the outline of the hard palate, a lever hingedly attached to the handle section of the base plate, and means to connect the said lever to the upper part of each outer wall portion of the dam-forming section whereby the said damforming section may be rotated about its hinged axis.

2. In a dental impression tray, the combination of a Y-shaped base plate having leg sections and a handle section, an interior wall arising from the inner edges of the said leg sections, a damforming section hingedly attached to the end of each of the said leg sections of the base plate, each of said dam-forming sections presenting an outer wall portion, a base wall portion, and an inner wall portion, a lever hingedly attached to the handle section of the base plate, and means to connect the said lever to the upper part of the outer wall portion of each dam-forming section whereby the said dam-forming section may be rotated about its axis.

3. In a dental impression tray, the combination of a Y-shaped base plate having leg sections and a handle section, an interior wall arising from the inner edges of the said leg sections, resilient exterior wall sections aifixed to the outer edge of the said leg sections near the ends thereof, the said exterior wall sections presenting arm portions curved to generally follow the outer edges of the said leg sections of the base plate, and manipulating handle portions whereby the said arm portions may be laterally compressed, a dam-forming section hingedly attached to the ends of the said leg sections, the said damformingsection presenting outer wall portions, base wall portions, and a dam-forming plate connecting the inner edges of the base wall sections, the said plate portion being curved to generally conform to the outline of the hard palate, a lever hingedly attached to the: handle section of the base plate, and means to connect the said lever to the upper part of each outer wall portion of the dam-forming section, whereby the dam-forming section may be rotated about its axis.

4. In a dental impression tray the combination of a Y-shaped base plate having leg sections and a handle section, an interior wall arising from the inner edges of the said leg sections, resilient exterior wall sections affixed to the outer edges of the said leg sections near the ends thereof, the said exterior wall sections presenting arm portions curved to generally follow the outer edges of the said leg sections of the base plate, and manipulating handle portions whereby the said arm portions may be laterally compressed, a dam-forming section hingedly attached to the end of each of the said leg sections of the base plate, each of said dam-forming sections presenting an outer wall portion, a base wall portion, and an inner wall portion, a lever hingedly at taohed to the handle section of the base plate, and means to connect the said lever to the upper part of each outer wall portion of the damforming section, whereby the said dam-forming section may be rotated about its axis.

5. In a dental impression tray the combination of a Y-shaped base plate having leg sections and a handle section, an interior wall rising from the inner edges of the said leg sections, resilient exterior wall sections affixed to the outer edges of the said leg sections near the ends thereof, the said exterior wall sections presenting arm portions curved to generally follow the outer edges of the said leg sections of the base plate and manipulating handle portions whereby the said arm portions may be laterally compressed,

ardamhforming means:hingedly attache-data :the fiends; iof athesrsa-idxzleg sections, lthe-a-qsaid dam- -forming,;rneans=i presenting outer; base; "and :in-

. n'errw'all portions; aleveri hingedlyiattached to the handle section of the base plate, and means -to con'nectthe said lev'erto the upper part of ithe outer :wall: portions of thez dam'eforming ineans," whereby theils'aid dam-forming means may. berotated'about its axis.

6:1Ina dental impression tray, the combination of a; Yi-shaped base plate having leg sections and a a: handletzsectionian interion wall: arising .from :the inner edges of the :saidleg. sections; the said interior: wall-connecting :the ,leg 'xsections' ofrthe base plate and being rounded to conform generally .to the 'shapebfr the -ha'rd palate; adamvforming section hinge'dly- "attached to .the ends :rof the: said leg sections-rthe said dam-forming section presenting outer wallportions,:;base wall portions, and a idameforming'plate:portion connecting the inner edges ;of ,therlbase" wall portion,

ithe said plate portion-being curved to: generally conform to the outline of the hard'palate; a r lever 'hingedly attached to the handle 'section of the base plate,v and meanstoxconnectthe Zsaid-.-levrer tozthesupper: part offeach outer wallrportion'iof the' dam-forming section" whereby the said damforming asection may-be rotated 'abouttits hinged Taxis.

'75-'11 a dental impression: tray, the combination 015 a Yshapedcbaseplate haying leg sectionsand a z-handle'zsectionz an .i-rrterior 'wall arising :from .the; inner edges-10f tthezsaidrleg sections, the a said interior? wall loonnect-ing the :?leg "sections '"of' a'the t-base platevzand being roundedto conformxgenfirally fto. thegshape of.ithe hard-palate; resilientpxzterior wallsectionsaffixed to the outer edges-pf the. said ;leg sections near the 'endsthereof ,ithe said "exterior: wall: sections presenting: arm portions: curved to generally-follow the outer edges of 'the said leg; sectionsxof the base platersand manipulating handle portions whereby the-said arm portions may vbe laterally compressed, at

dam-forming section hingedly attachedto the ends "of. the, said .leg SBCtiOIlSyihfl said damformingsection presenting outer wall portions,

base-wall portions, and a dam-forming plate connecting the inner edges of the base wall sections, the said-plate portion'being curvedrto. generally zconformto the outline of the hard palate; alever hingedly attached to the handle section-oflthe base plate, and means to connect the said-lever .to the upper part of each outer wall portionqof :the dam-forming section, whereby the-said .damiorming section may'berotated about its hinged axis.

VAN CORTLANDTELIOT.

1 REFERENCES CITED 'lh following' references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES" PATENTS Number Name Date r 310,407 Garner Jan. ,6, l 885 883,055 Smith lMar.,24,-190,8 1,248,690 ;-Ma.cDonald .Dec.,4-.,1917 1,464,987 Haggard et a1. Aug.-l4, 1923 

